Olefin metathesis in glycobiology: new routes towards diverse neoglycoconjugates

Abstract

This report provides a historical overview of the implementation of olefin metathesis in carbohydrate chemistry, with the emphasis on the construction of neoglycoconjugates. The current state-of-the-art in catalyst design allows the preparation of carbohydrate-containing molecules with great structural and functional diversity. Recent examples of complex neoglycoconjugates, including glycopolymers, glycoclusters, glycopeptide and glycolipid analogues are highlighted. Finally, future perspectives in the scope of olefin metathesis mediated neoglycoconjugate synthesis are discussed.